To help you gear up for a healthier 2009, here are 5 top strategies to help network and IT managers navigate the current economic downturn. They are offered by Intelliden Inc., a provider of high-performance enterprise and networking solutions. The theme is a simple one. Don't panic. Be smart!

After some dry years, software architects and devs in 2006 may see their biggest up ticks in salaries since the bubble burst, according to a leading IT recruiter. But, more money will mean more work. Among the big winners: professionals who can bridge high-tech and business needs using web-to-legacy integration, analytics, SOA and security.

In 2006, salaries for software architects and devs may finally see their biggest up ticks since the bubble burst, according to CIO surveys conducted by a leading international IT recruiter. But, with higher salaries will come bigger workloads. Among the big winners: professionals who can bridge high-tech and business needs using web-to-legacy integration, analytics, SOA and security.

Despite signs that new high-tech projects, such as SOA and web services, are gaining steam, salaries may have peaked for many IT professionals. Take a look at the Enterprise Systems 2005 IT Salary Survey, and see the signs it points to for '06.

In 2006, high-tech salaries for software architects and devs may see their biggest upticks since the bubble burst, according to recent CIO surveys. But, with higher salaries will come bigger workloads. Nonetheless, the big winners will include pros who can bridge tech and business needs with web-to-legacy integration, analytics, SOA and security.

SAP continues to work feverishly to convert its vast reserve of R3 application and business rules assets into reusable, composite applications and services. IDN looks deep at what SAP execs and engineers are doing to prepare 100s of ISV partners, and millions of ABAP, Java and ,NET devs for the mega SOA transition.

Despite signs that new SOA and web services projects seem to be gaining corporate acceptance, the uptick in new projects doesn't seem to be boosting salaries increases for appdev programmers or managers. Enterprise Systems 2005 IT Salary Survey finds a wide range of hands-on and manager salaries may have peaked in 2004, in fact. Check out what 1,000 IT hiring execs say are the latest in IT dev trends.

Just in time for fall semester, Borland Corp. has cut the ribbon on Borland University, a multidiscipline training program that looks at end-to-end appdev - including specification, design, build, test and deploy. Check out Borland's vision of team-driven training and Best Practices might make your traditional appdev and web services projects more successful.

Borland is poised to deliver a new approach to tools platforms and dev training that could make it tons easier for IT and business to deliver succesful software projects on time, and under budget. See more about Borland's role-based approach to technology, training and Best Practices.

Borland Corp. will cut the ribbon on Borland University as early as this spring, bringing a new, solutions-driven focus to IT technical training. Get a peek at what educational assets Borland U. will bring to boost success rates for complex IT projects, and how architects and devs could gain skills to play more strategic -- and valuable -- roles.

Architects and devs frustrated by a fragmented BPM market of more than 140 different tools may finally get some relief in 2005. The Meta Group's new report shows CIOs, architects and devs the Top 6 features to look for in a business process management solution. Review the checklist.